Archive · 23 Aug 2026
UPSC International Relations Quiz Explains Five Key Global Topics
This article is a practice quiz about India’s relations with other countries and global organisations.
One question discusses a United Nations meeting about protecting land from becoming too dry.
Another explains how countries take turns serving on the United Nations Security Council.
A third question looks at the history and location of the Chagos Archipelago.
The quiz also explains why Indian seafarers are important to international shipping.
A final question describes Svalbard as a Norwegian archipelago near the North Pole.
The answers correct several statements that confuse countries, locations, or organisations.
These questions are meant to help students revise international relations for the UPSC examination.
UNCCD COP17 is scheduled in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from 17 to 28 August 2026, under the theme “Restoring Land. Restoring Hope.”
Statements on UNCCD membership and COP17’s theme are correct, but the United Nations Environment Programme—not the FAO—will lead or co-lead related events.
Five elected members, not three, retire annually from the UNSC, while India has served as a non-permanent member eight times.
Only the statement that France ceded the Chagos Archipelago to Britain in 1814 is correct; Diego Garcia, not Eagle Island, is the largest island.
Both statements about Indian seafarers are correct, while neither statement describing Svalbard as Russian or located between Russia and the North Pole is correct.
- Who
- UPSC students, India, the United Nations, and international organisations discussed in the quiz.
- What
- A five-question International Relations quiz covering UNCCD, UNSC elections, the Chagos Archipelago, Indian seafarers, and Svalbard.
- When
- The quiz refers mainly to 2026 developments; UNCCD COP17 is scheduled for 17–28 August 2026.
- Where
- The topics span the United Nations, Mongolia, the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden, the Arctic, and Svalbard.
- Why
- The quiz is designed to help UPSC candidates revise important static and current-affairs topics in international relations.
- UNCCD COP17
- Scheduled in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from 17 to 28 August 2026.
- COP17 theme
- “Restoring Land. Restoring Hope.”
- UNCCD events
- The United Nations Environment Programme will lead and co-lead a range of events and discussions.
- UNSC rotation
- Five elected members retire every year, allowing rotation among non-permanent members.
- India’s UNSC service
- India has served eight times as a non-permanent member.
- Chagos Archipelago
- It lies roughly 500 km south of the Maldives; Diego Garcia is its largest island.
- Indian seafarers
- India is described as the world’s second-largest supplier of seafarers, contributing 311,936 maritime professionals and 12.2% of the global seafaring workforce.
- Svalbard
- Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago located between mainland Norway and the North Pole.